Stefany Shaheen may have the family name, but so far it’s Maura Sullivan who’s winning the fundraising war.
For the second quarter in a row, Sullivan — a Marine veteran and former Obama administration official — outraised Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s daughter in the Democratic 1st Congressional District primary. Sullivan is reporting $600,000 raised, bringing her total in the race to $1.35 million.
“I put our country first in the Marines, and I’ll put New Hampshire first in Congress. Our fundraising success shows that I have the broad support it takes to win one of the most competitive districts in the country,” Sullivan said in a statement.
Shaheen, on the other hand, raised just $350,000. In her first quarter, she reported $530,000 — well behind the $800,000 raised by Sullivan. Shaheen’s first disclosure also raised eyebrows by including $50,600 in donations from family members, including $7,000 each from her four children: Ellen, Annah, Caraline and Will.
In fact, Shaheen’s fundraising is so lackluster that she came in third this quarter. First-time candidate Christian Urrutia reported raising $400,000 from nearly 10,000 contributions.
“The timetable for hand-to-hand combat between Sullivan and Shaheen just advanced considerably,” said GOP political veteran Jim Merrill. “But Urrutia is the story long term. He has a chance to be New Hampshire’s Mamdani, coming out of nowhere to marry NextGen appeal with the purest progressive message.”
Shaheen’s campaign tried to put a positive spin on the numbers.
“Stefany Shaheen has been all over the district, listening to people and earning their support,” campaign spokeswoman Emma Greenberg told WMUR. “More than 1,500 people in New Hampshire have contributed to her campaign because they know no one fights harder than a mom for her kids, and that’s how she will fight for all New Hampshire families.”
Political observers are less than impressed.
“The race is no longer a coronation,” said Democratic operative Jay Surdukowski. “The Democratic state convention this week will be all the more intriguing after these numbers. The next milestone in this race — who will be able to light the room on fire with their speeches and inspire grassroots momentum?”
A longtime Granite State Democratic insider told NHJournal on background that the landscape is getting less favorable for a Stefany Shaheen candidacy every day.
“The times do not favor legacy or incumbent Democrats. And it’s not just New Hampshire. Janet Mills should take notice as well,” the Democrat said. “Stefany is going to have to earn [the nomination] — and she may well.”
Hampton Select Board member Carleigh Beriont, nonprofit director Sarah Chadzynski, and state Rep. Heath Howard (D-Strafford) are also seeking the Democratic nomination.
